Portable hand-stamp.



No. 730,968. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

H. E. & H. S. REYNOLDS.

PORTABLE HAND STAMP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1902.

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WITNESSES [NVENTORS No. 730,968. PATENTED JUNE 16,1903. H. E. & H. s.REYNOLDS. PORTABLE HAND STAMP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, .1902.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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WITNESSES Allarney No. '730,968.. PATENTBD JUNE 16, 1903.- H. E; & H. S.REYNOLDS.

PORTABLE HAND STAMP.-

APPLICATION FILED we. 27, 1902.

N0 MODEL. a SHEETSSHEET s Lem-11:

INVENTOR5- a 7 Allorn ey m: uomus vnzns co. moYou'rua. WASNINETON u cUNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. REYNOLDS, OF BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND HOWARD S. REYNOLDS,OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

PORTABLE HAN D-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,968, dated June 161903.

Application filed August 27, 1902. Serial No. 121,254. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY E. REYNOLDS, of Braintree, county of Norfolk,and State of Massachusetts, and HOWARD S. REYNOLDS,

5 of Columbus, county of Muscogee, and State of Georgia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Portable Hand- Stamps; and we dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to 2o marking passenger-transfers or other tickets eitherwhen they are to be issued or after they have been taken up. The stampwill by one motion print or stamp on such ticket theroutenumber,conductors number, the year, day, hour, and minute either ofits issue or of its taking up, also such other items as it may be foundconvenient to record. We are aware that punching such tickets eitherwhen issued or when taken up, or both, is a common practice; but weregard this as very objectionable, both because of the mutilation of theticket thereby and on account of loss of time and possibility of errorin punching, also forslipped into our machine on top of the stack ofblanks and stam ped there, after which said ticket can be withdrawn fordelivery to the auditor or other proper officer of the railroad.

lVith these objects in View the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangements of 'inaftergiven.

parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view illustrating ourimprovements.

frame, is a stack 0 of ticket-blanks ready to i be stamped, each of themin its turn, having received the desired marks, being intended then tobe taken out one by one by the conductor either for issue to a passengeror for delivery to the auditor or other proper officer of the railroad.

A horizontal shaft D passes through the center of a number oftype-wheels turning freely around it, all of them having the samediameter and central circular holes of the same size closely yet looselyfitting the shaft, which is fiat on a part of its surface and round onthe rest, being, in elfect, that part of a cylinder remaining after therest has been split off by a plane parallel to its axis. Said shaftmoves up and down as desired, being always parallel to the plane ofthecase bottom plate and being of some light material, preferably wood,supported by and on a smaller concentric shaft R, whose ends travelvertically in guides or channels F F in the case side plates. Betweeneach pair of typewheels a washer E closely embraces the shaft orcylinder and is stationary thereon, having a central hole partlycircular and partly fiat in shape. The shaft or cylinder is by means ofpins or other suitable means held stationary in a movable case G, to behereinafter described, and this arrangement of type, wheels, washers,shaft, and case G is intended to enable any type-wheel to turn aroundthe shaft D independently of and without causing to turn any other, forreasons to be here- Projecting radially outward from the circumferenceof each type-wheel X are arranged various characters or marks intended,like type, to be stamped or printed upon paper or other material heldbelow on the case-bottom by the set-screw B, as stated. It may at oncebe seen that by bringing down the shaft D all of the wheels X will becaused to stamp or print simultaneously on said paper. The aforesaidcase G, also preferably made of sheet metal and partly cylindrical inshape, contains and fits closely over the wheels, so that they turneasily within it. The ends of the concentric shaft R pass throughand arecontained in the centers of the end faces of this case G. Acylindricallycurved apron-plate I, having at its bottom rim an upturnedflange J, is by'means of end lugs K, pivoted on pins H, fastened in theend faces of case G, so that said plate I can through a short distancerotate easily around said pins H, the object of this arrangement being,as described, to bring the flange J into or out of notches cut aroundthe circumference of the wheels, so as to hold said wheels in positionwith their desired characters or marks in correct alinement forsimultaneous printing. In Fig. 2 this apron-plate is shown in positionwith its flange J in wheel-notches, thus holding a row of characters onwheels X correctly in line ready to print simultaneously when presseddown on the top surface of the paper blanks 0, held below on thecase-bottom, and a spring L is so connected both with said apron-plateand with the case G as to crowd against the apron-plate, and thus causeit to keep its tlangeJ constantly in the wheelnotches.

Upon the upper surface of a platform M is to be fastened a sheet of somesoft material saturated with ink and adapted to receive at the propertime the pressure of the typewheels. This platform is fastened to andsupported by side strips N, through-whose upper ends a pin 0 passes,which pin also passes through and is supported by the side plates of themachine. Two lower pins P, secured in lugs fastened to and beneath theplatform, turn freely in links Q, whose upper ends contain loosely thepins W, secured to the upper surface of case G. Thus the case G, thelinks Q, and the platform M, with its side strips N, when assembled asshown make up a flexible frame combination whose parts movefreelywhileconnectedwitheachother. These frame part-s are also intendedto be so proportioned and assembled together that each pin W and a shaftend B shall normally be and travel in the same vertical channel F, Wbeing normally vertically over R. Also when the case G is at its highestposition, as is shown in Fig. 1, the ink-sheet is pressed against thefaces of the row of characters or marks held ready to print.Furthermore, when the case G is pressed downward the platform M andink-sheet shall be forced to swing forward out of the way, so that thewheel characters now supplied with ink can descend unobstructed, so asto press down upon the paper, and when said characters ascend to theirnormal position the ink-sheet is to return to its place against thecharacters. One'or more mainspringsvY are to be so fastened and adjustedin this machine as to keep the case G normally at its highest position,as shown, and are to return said case to said position after it has beenby hand-pressure or otherwise forced down, so as to stamp thetype-wheels on the paper. These mainsprings maybe of any approveddesign. One We prefer is a wire helix coiled around half one way andhalf the other and fastened at its center to the pin 0, with its endsfastened into the ink-sheet-platform side strips N, while another designthat may be used is a wire helix secured in each channel F below the pinB, so as to be compressed when case G is forced downward.

A horizontal channel Z,connecting with and having the same cross-sectionas the channel.

F, is formed in each side plate of the main frame. The object of this isto enable the operator to crowd forward the pins W into these channels Zto cant the case G containing the type-wheels into a convenient positionforturning said wheels inorder to alter the marks or characters to bestamped, this alteration being, as stated, possible after backing theflange J out of the wheel-notches. Each wheel can then be altered inposition independently of each and every other.

The operation of this form of our improvements is as follows: Havingproperly alined the desired marks or characters for simultaneousprinting and having entered the flange J into the wheel-notches, so asto hold said characters thus alined by mainspring-pressure, the case Gis raised to its normal and highest position and is then presseddownward to bring the type-wheels hard upon the paper below them. Nextthis pressure is relaxed, and the mainspring will force back case G toits normal position. Also when the wheel characters are to be changedafter having turned case G so that pins W will have reached the ends ofthe channels Z upon pushing the apron-plate I upon the spring L to backflange J out from the wheel-notches the wheels are released and may beturned so as to bring any desired characters into position for printing.Each ticket after it has been stamped can be detached from the stack ofblanks and delivered to the passenger', and when any such ticket istaken up by a conductor or other employee it may be slipped into hismachine and held on top of his stack of blanks, then stamped there, andthereafter taken out to be delivered to the auditor or other properofficer of the road.

Instead of constructing our improvements as above described wemight makethe same as shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, which is below described indetail.

A main frame 1, preferably made of thin material, has a flat bottomplate on which IlO . vertical the aforesaid slide-frame.

are to be held down, by means of a set-screw 2, turning in said frame, astack of blank tickets 3 to be stamped or printed. The upper part of theframe is formed into a handle 4, pivoted by pins 5 in the upper ends ofthe side plates of the main frame, lugs 6, through which said pins pass,being the lower extremities of the handle. These lugs bear against theupper ends of springs 7, secured to the frame side plates, normally saidspring and handle being kept in upright position; but when necessary thehandle can be turned backward. In each side plate is a vertical channel8, extending from the lower ends of the handle 4 to the bottom plate.Said channels are closed at their upper ends when the handle'is in itsnormal position and are open when the handle is turned back. Aslideframe travels vertically in these channels, being normally kept ashigh up in them as is possible next to the handle ends. This slideframeconsists of an upper plate 9, a lower plate 10 parallel thereto, and twoside plates 11, all fastened together, so as to make up one rigid andunbending combination. The extremities of the upper plate are shapedinto pins 12, adapted to slide in the channels 8 of the main sideplates. A series of horizontal cylindrical drums 13, turning freelyaround an axis-pin 14, passing through their centers and located nearthe upper ends of the slideframe side plates, are embraced by a numberof type bands or belts 15, which also embrace the slide-frame lowerplate 10. Arranged on and projecting outward from the outer surface ofthese type-bands are various charactors or marks intended to be printedor stamped like type on the paper or other material held beneath them onthe main-frame bottom plate. The type-ban ds may at pleasure be shiftedaround the drums and lower plate 10, which they embrace, so as to changeas may be necessary the characters or marks to be printed. A horizontalpin 16 passes through the center lines of the slide-frame side platesand is placed between the drums and the lower plate of the slide-frame.The outer ends of this pin slide in the channels 8, and thus they, withthe aid of the slide-frame upper plate-pin ends, also sliding freely insaid channels, will constantly keep normally The outer ends of the pinsalso pass loosely through the upper ends of two exactly similar links17, and through the lower ends of said links passes another horizontalpin 18, attached to and supporting a curved apron-plate 19, upon whoseupper surface and at its lower edge is secured asheet of some softmaterial 20, filled with ink. Two lugs 21 are attached to the upper edgeof this apron-plate, and through both these lugs and the main-frame sideplates extends a pin 22, thus supporting the upper end of theapron-plate. It is easily seen that the slide-frame, the links, theapron-plate, and the main frame are coupledtogether into one flexiblecombination, whose parts move freely together. The ink-sheet is normallykept underneath and pressed against the row of type-band characters thatmay be beneath the lower frame-plate 10; but when by handpressure orotherwise the slide-frame is caused to move down in the channels theapronplate and its ink-sheet will swing out from under the type-bands,leaving the way clear for them, now supplied with ink, to descend andstamp or print upon the stack of blanks, as before stated. When thetypebands go back to their original position, the ink-sheet will returnto its place against them. One or more springs 23 are arranged in themain frame, so as by their pressure to keep the slide-frame in itshighest position, and any convenient design and arrangementof springsmay be used for this purpose. When the arrangement of characters to beprinted is to be changed, the handle is turned back to open the channelsbeneathit and the slide-- frame upper plate is moved upward and its pinends are slipped out from the channels. The slide-frame is then cantedforward, so as to bring the characters then under the bottom back againinto its original vertical position,

its upper pin ends are returned into their channels, and the handle isturned forward to its place, thus again closing said channels. Pressingthe slide-frame downward causes the characters in position thereforunder the slide frame lower plate to print simultaneously, and releasingthis pressure allows the slide-frame to rise back to its normal place.The sizes of the different parts are so proportioned that theslide-frame descending, guided by its channels, will print or stamp theticket-blanks one at a time from the topmost to the lowest, eachone'being of course removed after having been printed, thus exposing thenext one beneath it. Each ticket after it has been stamped is to bedetached from the stack of tickets and delivered to the passenger, andeach such ticket after it has been given up by a passenger can beslipped into a machine on top of the stack of tickets, can there bestamped, and thereafter can be taken out and delivered to the auditor orother proper officer of the railroad.

A great many other changes and alterations might be made in the generalform and arrangement of parts without departing from our invention, andhence we do not wish to be limited to the precise constructions setforth, but consider ourselves at liberty to make such slight changes andalterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hand-stamp, the combination with a frame constructed and adaptedto be held in the hand of the user, of means carried by said frame forclamping a sheet or sheets therein, and means also carried by said framefor printing upon said sheet or sheets.

2. In a hand-stamp, the combination with a frame constructed and adaptedto be held in the hand of the user, of means for clamping a sheet orsheets in said frame, a series of adjustable type-faces, means carriedby said frame for inking said type to print upon the sheet or sheets insaid frame.

3. In a hand-stamp, the combination with a frame, of a shaft movable inguides in the frame, a cylinder on said shaft having a flat side, typerings or wheels movable on said cylinder, washers on the shaft betweenthe type rings or wheels, each Washer having a flat portion to engagethe flat side of the shaft and a flanged spring-plate to engagesaidtyperings and hold them in any position.

4. In a hand-stamp, the combination with a frame, of a shaft mounted tomove in guides in the frame, a cylinder on said shaft flattened on oneside, a series of type rings or wheels on said cylinder, a series ofwashers interposed between the type rings or wheels and having straightinner faces to engage the flat face of the cylinder, a hinged plate, aflange at one edge of the plate and a spring to hold said flange inalined notches in the type-wheels.

5. In a hand-stamp, the combination with a main frame provided in itslower portion with a support for paper and having vertical guides andlateral guides communicating with each other near the top of the frame,of a printing-frame movable in said guides and inking mechanismconnected with and operated by the printing-frame.

6. In a hand-stamp, the combination with a frame having vertical guidesin its upright ends and lateral guides communicating wit-h the verticalguides, of a shaft movable in said vertical guides and carrying printingmechanism, a frame partially iuclosiug said printing mechanism and pinson the upper portion of said last-mentioned frame adapted to be movedinto the lateral guides to tilt or cant the printing mechanism.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a transfer-stamp, comprising a frameconstructed and adapted to be held in the hand of the operator, ahand-operated printing mechanism mounted in said frame and means forholding a pack of transfers or other sheets in position to be stamped.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presenceof the subscribing witnesses.

HENRY E. REYNoL'Ds. HOWARD s. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses as to H. E. R.:

CLARENCE BURGIN, I-IATTIE L. BURRELL.

WVitnesses as to H. S. R.:

JNO. F. FLOURNOY, FRANK U. GARRARD.

